In today's society, high-speed rail has become a critical transportation link between cities, like a time and space tunnel, quickly "transporting" people from one place to another. The emergence of high-speed rail initially became people's preferred mode of travel for a long time because of its rapid speed and excellent riding experience.
But with the passage of time, even the most dazzling stars have dim times, and high-speed rail, as a leader in the transportation industry, has also begun to show signs of "passing away". More and more people are turning to self-driving or other modes of transportation and are no longer inclined to take high-speed rail. What exactly is the reason behind this change?
Looking back at history, in 2003, China built its first high-speed railway, decades after the invention of high-speed rail. In just two decades, China has rapidly developed from a fledgling high-speed rail country to the country with the longest high-speed rail mileage in the world. During this period, many people experienced high-speed rail for the first time and felt the real "Chinese speed". In the past, passengers were bored on ordinary trains and had to pass the time by sleeping or chatting. However, the rapid development of high-speed rail has changed all that, and sometimes people close their eyes and rest only to find that they have reached their destination.
While this speed is efficient, it also feels impersonal, especially for those who like to socialize, and the high-speed rail journey can seem boring. On traditional trains, people have the opportunity to communicate and even make friends because of the long hours they have been together. The short journey of high-speed rail leaves no room for in-depth communication, so some people choose other modes of travel.
It is also a significant factor in the decrease in high-speed rail ridership. High-speed rail fares have indeed increased in recent years, which has naturally influenced passenger choices. People with modest economic conditions tend to look for more economical alternatives to travel. While there is nothing wrong with this choice, there are also those who misunderstand that this price increase is an exploitation of the public. In fact, the cost of construction and operation and maintenance of high-speed rail itself is higher than that of ordinary railways.
As the economy grows and workers' wages rise, rising labor costs are also pushing up the operating expenses of high-speed rail. In addition, most of the funds for the construction of high-speed rail are bank loans, and the principal and interest of the loans are also one of the factors that lead to fares. And inflation has also pushed up high-speed rail fares to a certain extent. However, while many high-speed rail lines are still in the red, fare increases are sometimes simply to ease operational pressure.
Another factor that affects the high-speed rail passenger experience is how crowded the carriages are. Despite the fact that high-speed rail fares have increased, people's demand for high-speed rail has not decreased, and even increased. As a result, even during off-peak hours, it is difficult to find empty seats on some lines. The crowded carriage environment makes people feel that the comfort and cost performance of high-speed rail are reduced, which is one of the reasons why some passengers turn to other modes of transportation.
The catering service of the high-speed rail is also a part of the criticism. Meals on high-speed rail** are expensive, and the taste and portion are often unsatisfactory. This is in stark contrast to people's expectations of high-speed rail catering, exacerbating passenger dissatisfaction.
Despite these issues, high-speed rail remains an extremely efficient way to travel, especially for passengers looking for speed and efficiency. Compared to airplanes, high-speed rail is not only more economical, but also capable of reaching more places. We should also be tolerant of high-speed rail, which is still an ever-improving means of transportation, not a professional service. With the continuous development and improvement of China's high-speed rail network, it is believed that high-speed rail will be able to better meet the travel needs of the public in the future.